SERA PROGNOSTICS, INC.
For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Mar 19, 2025.
View on SEC.govAbout this filing
A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.
FY2024 · Filed Mar 19, 2025
SERA$2.19+5.3%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026
What changed in Risk Factors?
Read the current filingPrevious report: 10-K
Period ended 2023-12-31; filed 2024-03-20.
0001534969-24-000055
Item 1A. Risk FactorsCurrent report: 10-K
Period ended 2024-12-31; filed 2025-03-19.
0000950170-25-042017
Item 1A. Risk FactorsThe baseline is this issuer’s latest earlier reporting period of the same form that was filed before the current report. A previous 10-Q is a different quarter, not a year-over-year comparison. Amendments are excluded.
Compared 376 previous paragraphs and 398 current paragraphs.
310 unchanged; 58 reworded; 29 added; 5 removed; 3 previous and 1 current paragraphs rearranged.
Tables are not compared: 0 previous and 0 current tables excluded. Dates, whitespace, punctuation and numbering changes are ignored; changes to financial figures remain significant.
A changed paragraph is not evidence that risk increased or decreased. An unchanged paragraph does not establish that risk stayed the same.
Added paragraphs (29)
Current report
Some of our products and services rely heavily on access to internal and external databases, and loss of access to such databases could materially harm our business.
Current report
the impact of our investments in product and service innovation and commercial growth.
Current report
Some of our products and services rely heavily on access to internal and external databases, and loss of access to data or such databases could materially harm our business.
Current report
Data is a critical driver of our business, and access to large amounts of data housed in both internal and external databases is essential for our existing and future products and services. We maintain much of this data in our own proprietary databases. While we take reasonable measures to protect such internal databases, those measures may be unsuccessful, which could lead to a temporary loss of access to or permanent loss of data, or to other unavailability or modification of such data. Other data used in or essential to our products and services is stored in databases controlled by third parties, including governmental databases. Continued access to such data depends on the third party maintaining such databases and continuing to allow our access on reasonable terms. Loss of access to either internal or external data or databases, or other unavailability or modification of such data could materially harm our business, including the possibility of us needing to discontinue certain products or services.
Current report
In addition, our Sera-branded specimen collection kits are produced by a third-party supplier. If demand for the kit increases significantly, we will need to either expand production capabilities through our existing third-party manufacturer or outsource to other manufacturers. If our third-party supplier fails to manufacture and deliver the collection kit in a timely manner for any reason, including as a result of supply chain failures, or they are unable to fulfil our orders due to regulatory non-compliance or other quality-related issues, our future relationships with our customers could be seriously harmed. We cannot assure you that manufacturing or quality control problems will not arise as we attempt to increase the production of the recently developed collection kit or that we may be able to increase our manufacturing capabilities and maintain quality control in a timely manner or at commercially reasonable costs. If we cannot have the collection kit manufactured consistently on a timely basis because of these or other factors, it could have a significant negative impact on our ability to continue performing tests and generating revenues.
Current report
Risks associated with any operations outside of the United States and developments in international trade by the U.S. and foreign governments could adversely affect our business.
Current report
We may establish operations or develop material partnerships outside the United States, and such operations or partnerships may become material to our business. Therefore, we may become subject to risks related to operating in foreign countries, which include unfamiliar foreign laws or regulatory requirements or unexpected changes to those laws or requirements; other laws and regulatory requirements to which our business activities abroad may be subject, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K. Bribery Act; changes in the political or economic condition of a specific country or region, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the conflict in the Middle East, and the potential for a wider European or global conflict; fluctuations in the value of foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar; volatility in inflation and interest rates; our ability to deploy overseas funds in an efficient manner; tariffs, trade protection measures, import or export licensing requirements, trade embargoes, and sanctions (including those administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury), and other trade barriers; global instability from an outbreak of pandemic or contagious disease; difficulties in attracting and retaining qualified personnel; and cultural differences in the conduct of business. For example, given developments related to international trade over the past few years, unexpected changes in tariffs could adversely affect our cost of goods sold and/or the foreign sales of our product candidates. Changes impacting our ability to conduct business outside of the United States, or changes to the regulatory regime applicable to our operations in countries outside of the United States (such as with respect to the approval of our product candidates), may materially and adversely impact our business, prospects, operating results, and financial condition.
Current report
An inflationary environment and unstable global economic and geopolitical conditions could materially adversely impact our business and results of operations.
Current report
Changes in U.S. federal policy that affect the geopolitical landscape could give rise to circumstances outside our control that could have negative impacts on our business operations. For example, during the prior Trump administration, increased tariffs were implemented on goods imported into the U.S., particularly from China, Canada, and Mexico. On February 1, 2025, the United States imposed a 25% tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, which were subsequently suspended for a period of one month, and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China. Historically, tariffs have led to increased trade and political tensions, between not only the United States and China, but also between the United States and other countries in the international community. In response to tariffs, other countries have implemented retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Political tensions as a result of trade policies could reduce trade volume, investment, technological exchange and other economic activities between major international economies, resulting in a material adverse effect on global economic conditions and the stability of global financial markets. Any changes in political, trade, regulatory, and economic conditions, including U.S. trade policies, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.
Current report
The ability of the FDA or other governmental agencies to review and approve new products can be affected by a variety of factors, including government budget and funding levels, the ability to hire and retain key personnel and accept the payment of user fees, and statutory, regulatory, and policy changes. Average review times at the agency have fluctuated in recent years as a result. In addition, government funding of the SEC and other government agencies on which our operations may rely, including those that fund research and development activities, is subject to the political process, which is inherently fluid and unpredictable. For example, over the last several years, the U.S. government has shut down several times and certain regulatory agencies, such as the FDA and the SEC, have had to furlough critical FDA, SEC and other government employees and stop critical activities. If a prolonged government shutdown or slowdown occurs, it could have a material adverse effect on our business. Further, future government shutdowns could impact our ability to access the public markets and obtain necessary capital in order to properly capitalize and continue our operations.
Current report
FDA’s final rule provides that the LDT enforcement policy phase-out process will occur in gradual stages over a total period of four years, with premarket approval applications for high-risk tests to be submitted by the 3.5-year mark. Moderate-risk and low-risks tests are expected to be in compliance at the 4-year mark, although the FDA has stated that if premarket submissions are pending review it will continue to exercise enforcement discretion with respect to those tests. The FDA’s final rule is complex and, concurrently, the agency announced several exceptions from the requirement to comply with full medical device regulatory controls, depending upon the specific nature of the LDT and the clinical laboratory that is offering such LDT for use by health care providers. Importantly, under the agency’s transition plan, LDTs that were marketed prior to the official publication date of the final rule (May 6, 2024) are considered to be "currently marketed" tests. “Currently marketed” tests are subject to many of the device regulatory controls but are exempted from the premarket review and FDA authorization requirements, unless or until significant modifications are made to such “currently marketed” tests. Similarly, FDA has created a partial enforcement discretion policy for tests approved by the NY DOH’s Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program whereby such tests also do not need to undergo FDA premarket review but must come into compliance with all other device general controls in a staggered fashion between 2025 and 2027.
Current report
We have begun the process of evaluating the final rule’s potential impact on our PreTRM tests, our operations, and our business more generally and are preparing to be in compliance with the Stage 1 obligations of the final rule that come into effect in May 2025.
Current report
On May 29, 2024, the American Clinical Laboratory Association (ACLA) and one of its members filed a complaint against the FDA in the Eastern District of Texas, alleging that the agency does not have authority to promulgate the LDT final rule and seeking to vacate the FDA’s action. A second lawsuit was also filed against FDA by the Association for Molecular Pathology (AMP) on August 19, 2024 in the Southern District of Texas, and subsequently the two cases were consolidated into a single action pending in the Eastern District of Texas. Arguments in the consolidated case took place on February 19, 2025 and the outcome of this ongoing litigation is uncertain at this time. Further, it remains possible that the Trump Administration may take steps to rescind or modify the LDT final rule in the future.
Current report
Under the FDA’s LDT final rule and stagged implementation timeline, we will become subject to increased regulatory burdens such as registration and listing requirements, adverse event reporting requirements, and quality control requirements with respect to our currently marketed PreTRM test. Further, our next version of the PreTRM term, as well as any other future LDTs we may develop, will become subject to more onerous regulation by the FDA, if and when the FDA begins to actively enforce its device premarket submission regulations with respect to LDTs, whether as a result of new legislative authority in the future or under the May 2024 LDT final rule. Depending upon the risk classification of each individual test, we may be required to obtain premarket clearance for future tests under Section 510(k) of the FDC Act or approval of a premarket approval application, or PMA. The process for submitting a 510(k) premarket notification and receiving FDA clearance usually takes from 3 to 12 months, but it can take significantly longer, and clearance is never guaranteed. The process for submitting and obtaining FDA approval of a PMA generally takes from 1 to 3 years or even longer, and approval is not guaranteed. PMA approval typically requires extensive clinical data and can be significantly longer, more expensive and more uncertain than the 510(k) clearance process. Any such process would likely be costly and time-consuming, and we cannot assure that the next version of PreTRM, or any new tests that we may develop future, will be authorized for marketing by the FDA in a timely or cost-effective manner, if at all.
Current report
The collection, use, disclosure, transfer, or other processing of personal data regarding individuals in the European Union (EU), including personal health data, is subject to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which became effective on May 25, 2018. The GDPR is wide-ranging in scope and imposes numerous requirements on companies that process personal data, including requirements relating to processing health and other sensitive data, obtaining consent of the individuals to whom the personal data relates, providing information to individuals regarding data processing activities, implementing safeguards to protect the security and confidentiality of personal data, providing notification of data breaches, and taking certain measures when engaging third-party processors. The GDPR also imposes strict rules on the transfer of personal data to countries outside the EU, including the U.S., and permits data protection authorities to impose large penalties for violations of the GDPR, including potential fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global revenues, whichever is greater. The GDPR also confers a private right of action on data subjects and consumer associations to lodge complaints with supervisory authorities, seek judicial remedies, and obtain compensation for damages resulting from violations of the GDPR. Our operations currently do not subject us to the GDPR. However, contemplated new initiatives, e.g., marketing the PreTRM test or conducting research in a member country of the EU, may subject us to and require us to comply with the GDPR.
Current report
In July 2023, the European Commission adopted an adequacy decision for a new mechanism for transferring personal data from the EU to the United States – the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework, which provides EU individuals with several new rights, including the right to obtain access to their data, or obtain correction or deletion of incorrect or unlawfully handled data. In addition, the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework offers additional redress avenues for violations, including free of charge independent dispute resolution mechanisms and an arbitration panel. The European Commission will continually review developments in the United States along with its adequacy decision. Adequacy decisions can be adapted or even withdrawn in the event of developments affecting the level of protection in the applicable jurisdiction. Future actions of EU data protection authorities are difficult to predict. If we become subject to the GDPR and its transfer restrictions, some customers or other service providers may respond to these evolving laws and regulations by asking us to make certain privacy or data-related contractual commitments that we are unable or unwilling to make. This could lead to the loss of current or prospective customers or other business relationships.
Current report
In addition, health-related, privacy, and data protection laws and regulations in the United States and elsewhere are subject to interpretation and enforcement by various governmental authorities and courts, resulting in complex compliance issues and the potential for varying or even conflicting interpretations, particularly as laws and regulations in this area are in flux. It is possible that these laws may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent with our practices. If so, this could result in government-imposed fines or orders requiring that we change our practices, which could adversely affect our business and our reputation. Complying with these laws could cause us to incur substantial costs or require us to change our business practices and compliance procedures in a manner adverse to our business, operating results, and financial condition.
Current report
Our internal information technology systems, or those of any of our third party service providers, or potential future collaborators, may fail or suffer security or data privacy breaches or other unauthorized or improper access to, use of, or destruction of our proprietary or confidential data, employee data or other personal data, which could result in regulatory enforcement, additional costs, loss of revenue, significant liabilities, harm to our brand and material disruption of our operations.
Current report
In the ordinary course of our business, we and the third parties upon which we rely collect, receive, store, process, generate, use, transfer, disclose, make accessible, protect, secure, dispose of, transmit, and share (collectively, process) proprietary, confidential, and sensitive data, including personal data, intellectual property, trade secrets, and other sensitive data (collectively, sensitive information). We have implemented a variety of security measures designed to protect systems that store our information, given their size and complexity and the increasing amounts of information maintained on our internal information technology systems and those of our third-party service providers and suppliers, and consultants. These systems are potentially vulnerable to breakdown or other damage or interruption from system malfunction, natural disasters, terrorism, war, and telecommunication and electrical failures, as well as cybersecurity incidents from inadvertent or intentional actions by our employees, contractors, consultants, business partners, and/or other third parties, or from cyber-attacks by malicious third parties, which may compromise our system infrastructure or lead to the loss, destruction, alteration or unauthorized dissemination of, or damage to, our data.
Current report
Threat actors now engage and are expected to continue to engage in cyber-attacks, including without limitation nation-state actors for geopolitical reasons and in conjunction with military conflicts and defense activities. During times of war and other major conflicts, we, and the third parties upon which we rely, may be vulnerable to a heightened risk of these attacks, including retaliatory cyber-attacks, that could materially disrupt our systems and operations, supply chain, and ability to produce, sell and distribute our goods and services. In particular, severe ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent, especially in the health care industry, and can lead to significant interruptions in our operations, ability to provide our products or services, loss of sensitive data and income, reputational harm, and diversion of funds. Extortion payments may alleviate the negative impact of a ransomware attack, but we may be unwilling or unable to make such payments due to, for example, applicable laws or regulations prohibiting such payments. Additionally, payment of ransom does not guarantee that data access will be restored by the threat actor.
Current report
To the extent that any disruption or cybersecurity incident were to result in, or be perceived to result in, loss, destruction, unavailability, alteration or dissemination of, or damage to, our data or applications, we could incur liability and reputational damage and the development and commercialization of our programs could be delayed. Further, our insurance policies may not be adequate to compensate us for the potential losses arising from any such disruption in, or failure or cybersecurity incident impacting, our systems or third-party systems where information important to our business operations or commercial development is stored.
Current report
While we have implemented security measures designed to protect against cybersecurity incidents, there can be no assurance that these measures will be effective. We may be unable in the future to detect vulnerabilities in our information technology systems because such threats and techniques change frequently, are often sophisticated in nature, and may not be detected until after a cybersecurity incident has occurred. Further, we may experience delays in developing and deploying remedial measures designed to address any such identified vulnerabilities. Applicable data privacy and security obligations may require us to notify relevant stakeholders of cybersecurity incidents. Such disclosures may be costly and may result in reputational harm, and the disclosure or the failure to comply with such requirements could lead to adverse consequences.
Current report
We rely on third-party service providers and technologies to operate critical business systems to process sensitive information in a variety of contexts. Our ability to monitor these third parties’ information security practices is limited, and these third parties may not have adequate information security measures in place. If our third-party service providers experience a cybersecurity incident or other interruption, we could experience adverse consequences. While we may be entitled to damages if our third-party service providers fail to satisfy their privacy or security-related obligations to us, any award may be insufficient to cover our damages, or we may be unable to recover such award. In addition, supply-chain attacks have increased in frequency and severity, and we cannot guarantee that third parties’ infrastructure in our supply chain or our third-party partners’ supply chains have not been compromised.
Current report
If we, or a third party upon whom we rely, experience a cybersecurity incident or are perceived to have experienced a cybersecurity incident, we may experience adverse consequences, such as government enforcement actions. For example, we may face investigations, fines, penalties, audits, and inspections; additional reporting requirements and/or oversight; restrictions on processing sensitive information, including personal identifiable information or PHI; litigation, including class claims; indemnification obligations; negative publicity; reputational harm; monetary fund diversions; interruptions in our operations, including availability of data; financial loss; and other similar harms. Cybersecurity incidents and attendant consequences may cause stakeholders, including investors and potential customers to stop supporting our platform, products and services, deter new customers from products and services, and negatively impact our ability to grow and operate our business.
Current report
Issues in the development and use of artificial intelligence, combined with an uncertain and evolving regulatory environment, may result in reputational harm, liability, or other adverse consequences to our business operations. As with many technological innovations, artificial intelligence presents risks and challenges that could impact our business. Additionally, our vendors and suppliers may incorporate generative artificial intelligence tools into their offerings without disclosing this use to us, and the providers of these generative artificial intelligence tools may not meet existing or rapidly evolving regulatory or industry standards with respect to privacy and data protection, which may inhibit our or our vendors’ and suppliers’ ability to maintain an adequate level of service and experience. Additionally, we expect to see increasing government and supranational regulation related to artificial intelligence use and ethics, which may also significantly increase the burden and cost of research, development and compliance in this area. For example, the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act, or the AI Act, is the world’s first comprehensive law regulating the development and use of artificial intelligence—entered into force on August 1, 2024 and, with some exceptions, will become fully effective from August 2, 2026. The AI Act regulates artificial intelligence systems based on risk level, has extraterritorial reach in certain circumstances, and imposes obligations on providers, manufacturers, importers, distributors, and deployers of artificial intelligence systems. The AI Act also prohibits certain uses of artificial intelligence. If we develop or use artificial intelligence systems that are governed by the AI Act, we may be required to ensure higher standards of data quality, transparency, and human oversight, and adhere to specific and potentially burdensome and costly ethical, accountability, and administrative requirements.
Current report
If we, our vendors, our suppliers, or our third-party partners experience an actual or perceived breach of privacy or other cybersecurity incident because of the use of generative artificial intelligence, we may lose valuable intellectual property, personal information, and confidential information, and our reputation and the public perception of the effectiveness of our privacy and security measures could be harmed. These events could also result in obligations pursuant to, and subject us to liability under, applicable laws and contracts that we have entered into. Further, bad actors around the world are using increasingly sophisticated methods, including the use of artificial intelligence, to engage in illegal activities involving the theft and misuse of personal information, confidential information, and intellectual property. Any of these outcomes could damage our reputation, result in the loss of valuable property and information, and adversely impact our business.
Current report
FDA laws and regulations, including but not limited to requirements for offering LDTs following the July 2024 effective date of the agency's LDT final rule.
Current report
Many physicians are exploring alternative ways to deliver care to their patients, including purchasing testing services from a laboratory and, in turn, selling these services directly to the patient. Such arrangements can be compliant, depending on the state in which the lab and physician are located and the specifics of the arrangement. At the same time, a shifting landscape in the health care laws discussed below may present unexpected challenges to some such arrangements.
Current report
actual or anticipated changes in regulatory oversight of our products and services;
Removed paragraphs (5)
Previous report
As a result of our failure to timely file a Current Report on Form 8-K, we are currently ineligible to file new short form registration statements on Form S-3, which may impair our ability to raise capital on terms favorable to us, in a timely manner or at all.
Previous report
Form S-3 permits eligible issuers to conduct registered offerings using a short form registration statement that allows the issuer to incorporate by reference its past and future filings and reports made under the Exchange Act. In addition, Form S-3 enables eligible issuers to conduct primary offerings “off the shelf” under Rule 415 of the Securities Act. The shelf registration process, combined with the ability to forward incorporate information, allows issuers to avoid delays and interruptions in the offering process and to access the capital markets in a more expeditious and efficient manner than raising capital in a standard registered offering pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1. The ability to register securities for resale may also be limited as a result of the loss of Form S-3 eligibility.
Previous report
As a result of our failure to timely file a Current Report on Form 8-K, we are currently ineligible to file new short form registration statements on Form S-3 until June 2024. Our inability to use Form S-3 may impair our ability to raise necessary capital to fund our operations and execute our strategy. If we seek to access the capital markets through a registered offering during the period of time that we are unable to use Form S-3, we may be required to publicly disclose the proposed offering and the material terms thereof before the offering commences, we may experience delays in the offering process due to SEC review of a Form S-1 registration statement and we may incur increased offering and transaction costs and other considerations. Disclosing a public offering prior to the formal commencement of an offering may result in downward pressure on our share price. If we are unable to raise capital through a registered offering, we would be required to conduct our equity financing transactions on a private placement basis, which may be subject to pricing, size and other limitations imposed under the Nasdaq rules, or seek other sources of capital. The foregoing limitations on our financing approaches could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, liquidity, and financial position.
Previous report
In addition, as noted above, Congress has been working on legislation to create an LDT and In Vitro Diagnostic, or IVD, regulatory framework that would be separate and distinct from the existing medical device regulatory framework. For example, as drafted and re-introduced for consideration by the current Congress, reform legislation called the Verifying Accurate, Leading-edge IVCT Development (VALID) Act would codify the term “in vitro clinical test,” or IVCT, and create a new medical product category separate from medical devices to include products currently regulated as IVDs as well as LDTs, among other provisions. The VALID Act would also create a new system for laboratories to use to submit their tests electronically to the FDA for approval, which is aimed at reducing the amount of time it would take for the agency to approve such tests, and establish a new program to expedite the development of diagnostic tests that can be used to address a current unmet need for patients. The FDA’s October 2023 publication of an LDT proposed rule that would apply the existing medical device framework to laboratory-developed products has renewed stakeholder calls for a more targeted approach to modernizing the federal government’s oversight of clinical diagnostic tests. It remains possible that congressional action in this area could displace the need for the FDA to complete its recently proposed rulemaking.
Previous report
If Congress were to pass the VALID Act or any other legislation applicable to the FDA’s regulation of LDTs, or if the FDA were to successfully promulgate new regulations for such products through the ongoing notice-and-comment rulemaking or a future rulemaking proceeding, we will likely be subject to increased regulatory burdens such as registration and listing requirements, adverse event reporting requirements, and quality control requirements. Any legislation or formal FDA regulatory framework affecting LDTs is also likely to have premarket application requirements prohibiting commercialization without FDA authorization and controls regarding modification to the tests that may require further FDA submissions. Any such process would likely be costly and time-consuming.
Reworded paragraphs (58)
Previous wording
Investing in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, the section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes, before investing in our Class A common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that affect us. If any of the following risks occur, our business, operating results and prospects could be materially harmed. In that event, the price of our Class A common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.
Current wording
Investing in our Class A common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, the section of this Annual Report entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our financial statements and related notes, before investing in our Class A common stock. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we are unaware of, or that we currently believe are not material, may also become important factors that affect us. If any of the following risks occur, our business, operating results and prospects could be materially harmed. In that event, the price of our Class A common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.
Previous wording
•We rely on a limited number of suppliers or, in some cases, single suppliers, for some of our laboratory instruments and materials and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers on a cost-effective basis, or at all.
Current wording
We rely on a limited number of suppliers or, in some cases, single suppliers, for some of our laboratory instruments and materials, as well as for our recently developed whole-blood collection kit, and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers on a cost-effective basis, or at all.
Previous wording
•The inflationary environment could materially adversely impact our business and results of operations.
Current wording
An inflationary environment could materially adversely impact our business and results of operations.
Previous wording
If third-party payers do not adequately reimburse for the PreTRM test or any new tests we may develop, such tests may not be purchased or used, which may adversely affect our revenue and profits.
Current wording
If third-party payers do not adequately reimburse for the PreTRM test or any new products we may develop, such may not be purchased or used, which may adversely affect our revenue and profits.
Previous wording
New reimbursement methodologies applicable to the PreTRM test, and other future tests, including new CPT codes, may decrease reimbursement rates from third-party payers.
Current wording
New reimbursement methodologies applicable to the PreTRM test, and other future products, including new CPT codes, may decrease reimbursement rates from third-party payers.
Previous wording
We have incurred net losses each year since our inception in 2008. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements of our equity and debt securities, bank loans and the sale and issuance of Class A common stock in our initial public offering (“IPO”), which was completed in July 2021. Our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $36.2 million and $44.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2023, we had an accumulated deficit of $246.9 million. Our losses may continue to increase in the future as we continue to devote a substantial portion of our resources to efforts to increase the adoption of, and reimbursement for, the PreTRM test, make improvements to this product, and research, develop, and commercialize new products.
Current wording
We have incurred net losses each year since our inception in 2008. To date, we have financed our operations primarily through private placements of our equity and debt securities, bank loans and the sale and issuance of Class A common stock in our initial public offering, or the IPO, which was completed in July 2021. Our net loss for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 was $32.9 million and $36.2 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2024, we had an accumulated deficit of $279.8 million. Our losses may continue to increase in the future as we continue to devote a substantial portion of our resources to efforts to increase the adoption of, and reimbursement for, the PreTRM test, make improvements to this product, and research, develop and commercialize new products and services.
Previous wording
We currently receive substantially all of our revenues from the sales of the PreTRM test and expect to continue to receive revenue from sales of the PreTRM test and our other pipeline products and services, if approved, in the future. It is possible that we will not generate sufficient revenue from the sales of any of our products and services to cover our costs, including research and development expenses related to furthering our product pipeline, and achieve or sustain profitability. A significant element of our business strategy is to increase and maintain our in-network coverage with third-party payers. However, third-party payers, such as commercial insurers and government health care programs, may decide not to reimburse for the PreTRM test or other tests we may develop, may not reimburse for uses of the PreTRM test or our other tests for the pregnant patient population, or may set the amounts of such reimbursements at prices that do not allow us to cover our expenses. Many third-party payers currently either have negative coverage determinations or otherwise do not reimburse for low-risk patient preterm birth screening tests. State Medicaid programs currently do not reimburse for our tests; third-party payers are increasingly requiring that prior authorization be obtained prior to conducting testing as a condition to reimbursing for it, which may reduce and/or delay the reimbursement amounts.
Current wording
We currently receive substantially all of our revenues from the sales of the PreTRM test and expect to continue to receive revenue from sales of the PreTRM test and our other pipeline products and services in the future. It is possible that we will not generate sufficient revenue from the sales of any of our products and services to cover our costs, including research and development expenses related to furthering our product pipeline, and achieve or sustain profitability. A significant element of our business strategy is to increase and maintain our in-network coverage with third-party payers. However, third-party payers, such as commercial insurers and government health care programs, may decide not to reimburse for the PreTRM test or other tests we may develop, may not reimburse for uses of the PreTRM test or our other tests for the pregnant patient population, or may set the amounts of such reimbursements at prices that do not allow us to cover our expenses. Many third-party payers currently either have negative coverage determinations or otherwise do not reimburse for low-risk patient preterm birth screening tests. State Medicaid programs currently do not reimburse for our tests; third-party payers are increasingly requiring that prior authorization be obtained prior to conducting testing as a condition to reimbursing for it, which may reduce and/or delay the reimbursement amounts.
Previous wording
In the future, we expect to incur significant costs in connection with our operations, including, but not limited to, the development, marketing authorization, and commercialization of new tests, and other products. These development activities generally require a substantial investment before we can determine commercial viability. We expect to need to raise additional funds through public or private equity or debt financings, collaborations or licensing arrangements to continue to fund or expand our operations.
Current wording
In the future, we expect to incur significant costs in connection with our operations, including, but not limited to, the development, marketing authorization, and commercialization of new tests, new services, and other products. These development activities generally require a substantial investment before we can determine commercial viability. We expect to need to raise additional funds through public or private equity or debt financings, collaborations or licensing arrangements to continue to fund or expand our operations.
Previous wording
We currently receive and expect to continue to receive substantially all of our revenues from the sales of the PreTRM test in the near term. We intend to establish reimbursement for the PreTRM test by collaborating with payers to perform rigorous analysis to demonstrate the health and economic benefits of our biomarker tests within their own network using customized inputs based on the plan’s patient population. We plan to leverage early payer reimbursement decisions to obtain widespread commercial coverage of the PreTRM test from many regional and national plans and medical groups with doctors ordering the PreTRM test. If we are unable to execute on this commercial strategy and increase our revenues from the sale of the PreTRM test, our business may be materially adversely impacted. Our ability to increase sales of the PreTRM test and establish greater levels of adoption and reimbursement for the PreTRM test is uncertain for many reasons, including, among others:
Current wording
We currently receive and expect to continue to receive substantially all of our revenues from the sales of the PreTRM test in the near term. We intend to establish reimbursement for the PreTRM test by collaborating with payers to perform rigorous analysis to demonstrate the health and economic benefits of our biomarker tests within their own network using customized inputs based on the plan’s patient population. We plan to leverage early payer reimbursement decisions to obtain widespread commercial coverage of the PreTRM test from many regional and national plans and medical groups with doctors ordering the PreTRM test. We are also evaluating the expansion of our business internationally, with an initial focus on Europe. If we are unable to execute on this commercial strategy and increase our revenues from the sale of the PreTRM test, our business may be materially adversely impacted. Our ability to increase sales of the PreTRM test and establish greater levels of adoption and reimbursement for the PreTRM test is uncertain for many reasons, including, among others:
Previous wording
•U.S. or foreign regulatory or legislative bodies may adopt new regulations or policies or take other actions that impose significant restrictions on, or other challenges to, our ability to sell or market our products;
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U.S. or foreign regulatory or legislative bodies may adopt new regulations or policies or take other actions that impose significant restrictions on, or other challenges to, our ability to sell or market our products and services;
Previous wording
Our ability to achieve and maintain scientific and commercial market acceptance of the PreTRM test will depend on a number of factors. We expect that the PreTRM test will be subject to the market forces and adoption curves common to other new technologies. The market for proteomics and bioinformatics technologies and products is in its early stages of development. If widespread adoption of the PreTRM test or any other products that we commercialize in the future takes longer than anticipated, we will continue to experience operating losses. The success of life sciences technologies and products is due, in large part, to acceptance by the scientific and medical communities and their adoption of certain products in the applicable field of research. The life sciences scientific community is often led by a small number of early adopters and key opinion leaders who significantly influence the rest of the community through publications in peer-reviewed journals. In such journal publications, the researchers will describe their discoveries, and also the methods, and typically the products used, to fuel such discoveries. Mentions in peer-reviewed journal publications may be a driver for the general acceptance of products for the life sciences industry, such as the PreTRM test. In addition, continuing collaborative relationships with opinion leaders will be vital to maintaining any market acceptance we achieve. If too few researchers describe the use of our products, too many researchers shift to a competing product and publish research outlining their use of that product, or too many researchers negatively describe the use of our products in publications, it may drive customers away from our products. Other factors in achieving commercial market acceptance include:
Current wording
Our ability to achieve and maintain scientific and commercial market acceptance of the PreTRM test will depend on a number of factors. We expect that the PreTRM test will be subject to the market forces and adoption curves common to other new technologies. The market for proteomics and bioinformatics technologies and products is in its early stages of development. If widespread adoption of the PreTRM test or any other products and services that we commercialize in the future takes longer than anticipated, we will continue to experience operating losses. The success of life sciences technologies and products is due, in large part, to acceptance by the scientific and medical communities and their adoption of certain products in the applicable field of research. The life sciences scientific community is often led by a small number of early adopters and key opinion leaders who significantly influence the rest of the community through publications in peer-reviewed journals. In such journal publications, the researchers will describe their discoveries, and also the methods, and typically the products used, to fuel such discoveries. Mentions in peer-reviewed journal publications may be a driver for the general acceptance of products for the life sciences industry, such as the PreTRM test. In addition, continuing collaborative relationships with opinion leaders will be vital to maintaining any market acceptance we achieve. If too few researchers describe the use of our products or services, too many researchers shift to a competing product or service and publish research outlining their use of that product or service, or too many researchers negatively describe the use of our products or services in publications, it may drive customers away from our products or services. Other factors in achieving commercial market acceptance include:
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•our customers’ willingness to adopt new products and workflows;
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our customers’ willingness to adopt new products, services, and workflows;
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•our ability to develop new products and solutions for customers;
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our ability to develop new products, services, and solutions for customers;
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We cannot assure that we will be successful in addressing each of these criteria or other criteria that might affect the market acceptance of any products we commercialize, particularly the PreTRM test. If we are unsuccessful in achieving and maintaining market acceptance of the PreTRM test, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would be adversely affected.
Current wording
We cannot assure that we will be successful in addressing each of these criteria or other criteria that might affect the market acceptance of any products or services we commercialize, particularly the PreTRM test. If we are unsuccessful in achieving and maintaining market acceptance of the PreTRM test, our business, financial condition, and results of operations would be adversely affected.
Previous wording
We have limited experience as a company in sales and marketing and our ability to achieve profitability depends on our being able to attract customers for the PreTRM test and our future products, once approved. Although members of our management team have considerable industry experience, successfully commercializing the PreTRM test will require adapting our sales, marketing, distribution, and customer service and support capabilities to current and ever-changing market conditions. To perform sales, marketing, distribution, and customer service and support successfully, we will face a number of risks, including:
Current wording
We have limited experience as a company in sales and marketing and our ability to achieve profitability depends on our being able to attract customers for the PreTRM test and our future products or services, once approved. Although members of our management team have considerable industry experience, successfully commercializing the PreTRM test will require adapting our sales, marketing, distribution, and customer service and support capabilities to current and ever-changing market conditions. To perform sales, marketing, distribution, and customer service and support successfully, we will face a number of risks, including:
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Even if the PreTRM test achieves broad scientific and market acceptance, if we fail to improve it or introduce compelling new products, our future revenues and prospects could be harmed.
Current wording
Even if the PreTRM test achieves broad scientific and market acceptance, if we fail to improve it or introduce compelling new products and services, our future revenues and prospects could be harmed.
Previous wording
Even if we are able to achieve broad scientific and market acceptance for the PreTRM test, our ability to grow our business will depend in large part on our ability both to enhance and improve the PreTRM test and to introduce compelling new products, including for major pregnancy related conditions beyond preterm birth. The success of any enhancement to the PreTRM test or introduction of new products depends on several factors, including completion of certain clinical development requirements, timely completion and delivery of the product, competitive pricing, adequate quality testing, integration with existing technologies, appropriately timed and staged product introductions, and overall market acceptance. Any new product or enhancement to the PreTRM test that we develop may not be introduced in a timely or cost-effective manner, may contain defects, errors or vulnerabilities or may not achieve the market acceptance necessary to generate significant revenue.
Current wording
Even if we are able to achieve broad scientific and market acceptance for the PreTRM test, our ability to grow our business will depend in large part on our ability both to enhance and improve the PreTRM test and to introduce compelling new products and services, including for major pregnancy related conditions beyond preterm birth. The success of any enhancement to the PreTRM test or introduction of new products or services depends on several factors, including completion of certain clinical development requirements, timely completion and delivery of the product or service, competitive pricing, adequate quality testing, integration with existing technologies, appropriately timed and staged product or service introductions, and overall market acceptance. Any new product, new service, or enhancement to the PreTRM test that we develop may not be introduced in a timely or cost-effective manner, may contain defects, errors or vulnerabilities or may not achieve the market acceptance necessary to generate significant revenue.
Previous wording
The typical development cycle of new life sciences products can be lengthy and complicated and may require new scientific discoveries or advancements, considerable resources, and complex technology and engineering. Such developments may involve external suppliers and service providers, making the management of development projects complex and subject to risks and uncertainties regarding timing, timely delivery of required components or services and satisfactory technical performance of such components or assembled products. If we do not achieve the required technical specifications or successfully manage new product development processes, or if development work is not performed according to schedule, then such new technologies or products may be adversely impacted. To date, we have only completed the development process for one product. We cannot assure you that we will ever succeed in completing that process for another product, including for major pregnancy related conditions beyond preterm birth, or that even if we do, it will be launched successfully in the market and find commercial acceptance. If we are unable to successfully develop new products, enhance the PreTRM test to meet customer requirements, compete with alternative products or otherwise gain and maintain market acceptance, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be harmed.
Current wording
The typical development cycle of new life sciences products or services can be lengthy and complicated and may require new scientific discoveries or advancements, considerable resources, and complex technology and engineering. Such developments may involve external suppliers and service providers, making the management of development projects complex and subject to risks and uncertainties regarding timing, timely delivery of required components or services and satisfactory technical performance of such components or assembled products. If we do not achieve the required technical specifications or successfully manage development processes of the new product or service, or if development work is not performed according to schedule, then such new technologies, products, or services may be adversely impacted. To date, we have only completed the development process for one product. We cannot assure you that we will ever succeed in completing that process for another product, including for major pregnancy related conditions beyond preterm birth, or that even if we do, it will be launched successfully in the market and find commercial acceptance. If we are unable to successfully develop new products or services, enhance the PreTRM test to meet customer requirements, compete with alternative products and services or otherwise gain and maintain market acceptance, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be harmed.
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To the extent that we decide to market our products and services outside the United States, our business will be subject to the risks associated with doing business outside the United States, including an increase in our expenses and diversion of our management’s attention from the development of future products and services. Accordingly, our business and financial results in the future could be adversely affected due to a variety of factors, including:
Current wording
To the extent that we decide to market our products and services outside the United States, including but not limited to jurisdictions in the European Union, our business will be subject to the risks associated with doing business outside the United States, including an increase in our expenses and diversion of our management’s attention from the development of future products and services. Accordingly, our business and financial results in the future could be adversely affected due to a variety of factors, including:
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•multiple, conflicting and changing laws and regulations such as data privacy, information security, and data use regulations, tax laws, export and import restrictions, economic sanctions and embargoes, employment laws, anti-corruption laws, regulatory requirements, reimbursement or payer regimes and other governmental approvals, permits, and licenses;
Current wording
multiple, conflicting and changing laws and regulations such as data privacy, information security, and data use regulations, tax laws, export and import restrictions, economic sanctions and embargoes, employment laws, anti-corruption laws, regulatory requirements applicable to clinical laboratories and to IVD products, reimbursement or payer regimes and other governmental approvals, permits and licenses;
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•logistics and regulations associated with shipping specimens, including infrastructure conditions and transportation delays;
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logistics and regulations associated with the international shipment of patient specimens, including infrastructure conditions, licensure requirements and transportation delays;
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We expect to depend on collaborators, partners, licensees, and other third parties to support our test development and validation efforts, to deliver needed supplies, and to transport specimens for testing, among other things. Any problems we experience with any of these third parties could delay the development, validation, commercialization, and performance of our testing, which could harm our results of operations.
Current wording
We expect to depend on collaborators, partners, licensees, and other third parties to support our test development and validation efforts, to deliver needed supplies, and to transport patient specimens both domestically and internationally, among other things. Any problems we experience with any of these third parties could delay the development, validation, commercialization, and performance of our testing, which could harm our results of operations.
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We rely on a limited number of suppliers or, in some cases, single suppliers, for some of our laboratory instruments and materials and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers on a cost-effective basis, or at all.
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We rely on a limited number of suppliers or, in some cases, single suppliers, for some of our laboratory instruments and materials, as well as for our recently developed whole-blood collection kit, and may not be able to find replacements or immediately transition to alternative suppliers on a cost-effective basis, or at all.
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Public health threats, such as COVID-19, could materially affect our operations, as well as the business or operations of third parties with whom we conduct business. Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of other future public health threats in regions where we, or third parties on which we rely, have significant business operations.
Current wording
Public health threats, such as pandemics or epidemics, could materially affect our operations, as well as the business or operations of third parties with whom we conduct business. Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of other future public health threats in regions where we, or third parties on which we rely, have significant business operations.
Previous wording
Our business and operations, including, but not limited to, our laboratory operations, sales and marketing efforts, supply chain operations, research and development activities, and fundraising activities, could be adversely affected by public health disruptions in regions where we have business operations, and such health disruptions could cause significant disturbance in the operations of third parties upon whom we rely. As a recent example, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, and the U.S. government imposed restrictions on travel between the United States, Europe, and certain other countries. In the years following the initial outbreak, numerous state and local jurisdictions, including the jurisdictions where our headquarters and laboratory are located, imposed quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, executive orders, and similar government orders for their residents to control the spread of COVID-19. A new serious public health threat could result in similar restrictions being imposed. The future impact of a public health threat is highly uncertain and subject to change. We cannot predict the full extent of potential delays or impacts on our business, our clinical trials, health care systems or the global economy as a whole.
Current wording
Our business and operations, including, but not limited to, our laboratory operations, sales and marketing efforts, supply chain operations, research and development activities, and fundraising activities, could be adversely affected by public health disruptions in regions where we have business operations, and such health disruptions could cause significant disturbance in the operations of third parties upon whom we rely. For example, in March 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, and the U.S. government imposed restrictions on travel between the United States, Europe, and certain other countries. In the years following the initial outbreak, numerous state and local jurisdictions, including the jurisdictions where our headquarters and laboratory are located, imposed quarantines, shelter-in-place orders, executive orders, and similar government orders for their residents to control the spread of COVID-19. A new serious public health threat could result in similar restrictions being imposed. The future impact of a public health threat is highly uncertain and subject to change. We cannot predict the full extent of potential delays or impacts on our business, our clinical trials, health care systems or the global economy as a whole.
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We have a significant amount of net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards that can be used to offset potential future taxable income and related income taxes. As of December 31, 2023, we had federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $211.6 million, of which, $70.3 million, if not utilized, begin to expire in 2028. Approximately $141.3 million of these federal NOLs can be carried forward indefinitely. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50% change, by value, in equity ownership over any three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. We may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of shifts in our stock ownership, some of which may not be within our control. Our ability to use these carryforwards could be limited if we experience an “ownership change.”
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We have a significant amount of net operating loss, or NOL, carryforwards that can be used to offset potential future taxable income and related income taxes. As of December 31, 2024, we had federal NOL carryforwards of approximately $239.6 million, of which, $70.3 million, if not utilized, begin to expire in 2028. Approximately $169.3 million of these federal NOLs can be carried forward indefinitely. Under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change” (generally defined as a greater than 50% change, by value, in equity ownership over any three-year period), the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change NOL carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its post-change income or taxes may be limited. We may experience ownership changes in the future as a result of shifts in our stock ownership, some of which may not be within our control. Our ability to use these carryforwards could be limited if we experience an “ownership change.”
Previous wording
Our operating results could be materially impacted by changes in the overall macroeconomic environment and other economic factors that impact customer confidence and spending, including capital spending. Changes in economic conditions, supply chain constraints, logistics challenges, labor shortages, global conflicts, and steps taken by governments and central banks, particularly in response to public health threats as well as other stimulus and spending programs, have led to higher inflation, which is likely, in turn, to lead to an increase in costs and may cause changes in fiscal and monetary policy, including increased interest rates. In a higher inflationary environment, we may be unable to raise the prices of our products sufficiently to keep up with the rate of inflation. Impacts from inflationary pressures could be more pronounced and materially adversely impact aspects of our business where revenue streams and cost commitments are linked to contractual agreements that extend further into the future, as we may not be able to quickly or easily adjust pricing, reduce costs, or implement counter measures.
Current wording
Our operating results could be materially impacted by changes in the overall macroeconomic environment and other economic factors that impact customer confidence and spending, including capital spending. Changes in economic conditions, supply chain constraints, logistics challenges, labor shortages, global conflicts, and steps taken by governments and central banks, particularly in response to public health threats as well as other stimulus and spending programs, could lead to higher inflation, which is likely, in turn, to lead to an increase in costs and may cause changes in fiscal and monetary policy, including increased interest rates. In a higher inflationary environment, we may be unable to raise the prices of our products sufficiently to keep up with the rate of inflation. Impacts from inflationary pressures could be more pronounced and materially adversely impact aspects of our business where revenue streams and cost commitments are linked to contractual agreements that extend further into the future, as we may not be able to quickly or easily adjust pricing, reduce costs, or implement counter measures.
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In the United States, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, or HHS, and its Medicare Administrative Contractors make decisions regarding Medicare coverage for new tests. Other third-party payers, including commercial insurers, often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates, and both CMS and certain commercial insurers may have sufficient market power to demand significant price reductions.
Current wording
In the United States, CMS, an agency within HHS, and its Medicare Administrative Contractors make decisions regarding Medicare coverage for new tests. Other third-party payers, including commercial insurers, often follow Medicare coverage policy and payment limitations in setting their own reimbursement rates, and both CMS and certain commercial insurers may have sufficient market power to demand significant price reductions.
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There have been multiple attempts to repeal the ACA or significantly scale back its applicability, as a result of which, certain sections of the ACA have not been fully implemented or were effectively repealed. This could negatively impact reimbursement for our testing, adversely affect our test volumes and adversely affect our business, operating results, and financial condition. However, following several years of litigation in the federal courts, in June 2021, the United States Supreme Court upheld the ACA when it dismissed a legal challenge to the Act’s constitutionality. Further legislative and regulatory changes to federal health care laws and policies remain possible. Future changes or additions to the ACA, the Medicare and Medicaid programs, and changes stemming from other health care reform measures, especially with regard to health care access, financing or other legislation in individual states, could have a material adverse effect on the health care industry in the U.S. The uncertainty around the future of the ACA and other health care legislation, and in particular the impact to reimbursement levels and the number of insured individuals, may lead to delay in the purchasing decisions of our customers.
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Under the Trump Administration and the 119 th Congress, there remains uncertainty around the future of the ACA and other health care legislation, and in particular the impact to reimbursement levels and the number of insured individuals. Future changes may lead to delay in the purchasing decisions of our customers.
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Many of the sequencing instruments, reagents, kits, and other consumable products used to perform our testing, as well as the instruments and other capital equipment that enable the testing, are offered for sale as analyte specific reagents, or ASRs, or for research use only, or RUO. ASRs are medical devices and must comply with FDA quality system requirements provisions and other device requirements, but most are exempt from premarket review by the FDA as anin vitro diagnostic product. Products that are intended for RUO and are labeled as RUO are exempt from compliance with most FDA requirements, including the approval or clearance and other product quality requirements for medical devices. A product labeled RUO but which is actually intended for clinical diagnostic use may be viewed by the FDA as adulterated and misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or the FD&C Act, and subject to FDA enforcement action. The FDA has said that when determining the intended use of a product labeled RUO, it will consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding distribution and use of the product, including how the product is marketed and to whom. The FDA could disagree with a supplier’s assessment that the supplier’s products are RUOs, or could conclude that products labeled as RUO are actually intended for clinical diagnostic use, and could take enforcement action against the supplier, including requiring the supplier to cease offering the product while it seeks appropriate marketing authorization from FDA. Suppliers of ASRs and RUO products that we employ in our tests may cease selling their respective products, and we may be unable to obtain an acceptable substitute on commercially reasonable terms or at all, which could significantly and adversely affect our ability to provide timely testing results to our customers or could significantly increase our costs of conducting business.
Current wording
Many of the sequencing instruments, reagents, kits, and other consumable products used to collect samples or perform our testing, as well as the instruments and other capital equipment that enable the testing, are offered for sale as analyte specific reagents, or ASRs, or for research use only, or RUO. ASRs are medical devices and must comply with FDA quality system requirements provisions and other device requirements, but most are exempt from premarket review by the FDA as anin vitro diagnostic product. Products that are intended for RUO and are labeled as RUO are exempt from compliance with most FDA requirements, including the approval or clearance and other product quality requirements for medical devices. A product labeled RUO but which is actually intended for clinical diagnostic use, such as a test reagent or part of a blood collection kit, may be viewed by the FDA as adulterated and misbranded under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or the FD&C Act, and subject to FDA enforcement action. The FDA has said that when determining the intended use of a product labeled RUO, it will consider the totality of the circumstances surrounding distribution and use of the product, including how the product is marketed and to whom. The FDA could disagree with a supplier’s or lab's assessment that the supplier’s products are RUOs, or could conclude that products labeled as RUO are actually intended for clinical diagnostic use, and could take enforcement action against the supplier or the lab, including requiring the supplier to cease offering the product to the lab, or requiring the lab to cease distributing the supplier's product, while it seeks appropriate marketing authorization from FDA. Suppliers of ASRs and RUO products that we employ in our tests may cease selling their respective products, or we may need to cease distributing them for use in our testing, and we may be unable to obtain an acceptable substitute on commercially reasonable terms or at all, which could significantly and adversely affect our ability to provide timely testing results to our customers or could significantly increase our costs of conducting business.
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Our laboratory is also accredited by the College of American Pathologists, or CAP. CMS has deemed CAP standards to be equally or more stringent than CLIA regulations and has approved CAP as a recognized accrediting organization. Inspection by CAP is performed in lieu of inspection by CMS for CAP-accredited laboratories. Because we are accredited by CAP, we are deemed to also comply with CLIA. Many commercial insurers require CAP accreditation as a condition to contracting with clinical laboratories to cover their tests.
Current wording
Our laboratory is also accredited by the College of American Pathologists, or CAP. CMS has deemed CAP standards to be equal to or more stringent than CLIA regulations and has approved CAP as a recognized accrediting organization. Inspection by CAP is performed in lieu of inspection by CMS for CAP-accredited laboratories. Because we are accredited by CAP, we are deemed to also comply with CLIA. Many commercial insurers require CAP accreditation as a condition to contracting with clinical laboratories to cover their tests.
Previous wording
We have obtained licenses from states where we believe we are required to be licensed. From time to time, we may become aware of other states that require out-of-state laboratories to obtain licensure in order to accept specimens from those states, and it is possible that other states do have such requirements or will have such requirements in the future. If we identify any other state with such requirements or if we are contacted by any other state advising us of such requirements, we expect to seek to comply with such requirements. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain any such required license for the particular state.
Current wording
We have obtained licenses from states where we believe we are required to be licensed. From time to time, we may become aware of other states that require out-of-state laboratories to obtain licensure in order to accept specimens from those states, and it is possible that other states do have such requirements or will have such requirements in the future. If we identify any other state with such requirements or if we are contacted by any other state advising us of such requirements, we expect to seek to comply with such requirements. However, there is no assurance that we will be able to obtain any such required license for the particular state. We also may become subject to regulation in foreign jurisdictions as we seek to expand international utilization of our PreTRM test if jurisdictions in which we pursue operations have licensure requirements for U.S.-based clinical laboratories offering and providing diagnostic testing services to professionals located in those jurisdictions. Foreign licensure requirements could require review and modification of our tests in order to offer them in certain jurisdictions or could impose other limitations that may limit our ability to make our tests more widely available outside the United States. Complying with licensure requirements, if applicable, in new jurisdictions may be expensive and time-consuming.
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The FDA may finalize its rulemaking to regulate Laboratory Developed Tests or Congress may take action to reform the current legal requirements applicable to LDTs. In either case we may become subject to extensive regulatory requirements and may be required to conduct additional clinical trials prior to continuing to sell our existing tests or launching any other tests we may develop, which may increase the cost of conducting, or otherwise harm, our business.
Current wording
The FDA recently finalized its rulemaking to regulate Laboratory Developed Tests, and Congress continues to debate whether to take action to reform the current legal requirements applicable to LDTs. In either case we may become subject to extensive regulatory requirements and may be required to conduct additional clinical trials prior to continuing to sell our existing tests or launching any other tests we may develop, which may increase the cost of conducting, or otherwise harm, our business.
Previous wording
We currently market the PreTRM test as an LDT and may in the future market other tests as LDTs. Although historically the FDA applied a policy of enforcement discretion with respect to LDTs whereby the agency does not generally actively enforce its regulatory requirements for such tests, in October 2023, the FDA issued a proposed rule aimed at regulating LDTs under the current medical device framework and phasing out its current enforcement discretion policy over several years. This FDA rulemaking was initiated after years of failed congressional attempts to harmonize the regulatory paradigms applicable to LDTs and otherin vitro diagnostic tests, as discussed further below. FDA’s proposal envisions that the LDT enforcement policy phase-out process would occur in gradual stages over a total period of four years, with premarket approval applications for high-risk tests to be submitted by the 3.5-year mark, although more details are expected to be provided with the upcoming final rule. The likelihood of the FDA finalizing its proposed rule in April 2024 (as currently projected), as well as potential litigation challenging its authority to take such action, is uncertain at this time. Affected stakeholders continue to press for a comprehensive legislative solution to create a harmonized paradigm for oversight of LDTs by both the FDA and CMS, instead of administrative agency action, which may be disruptive to the industry and to patient access to certain diagnostic tests. If there are changes in FDA regulations or legislative authorities such that the agency begins to exercise oversight over LDTs, or if the FDA disagrees that our marketed tests are within the scope of its criteria used for defining LDTs, we may become subject to extensive regulatory requirements and may be required to stop selling our existing test or launching any other tests we may develop and to conduct additional clinical trials or take other actions prior to continuing to market our tests. If the FDA allows our tests to remain on the market but there is uncertainty about our tests, if they are labeled investigational by the FDA or if labeling claims the FDA allows us to make are very limited, orders from health care providers or reimbursement for our tests may decline.
Current wording
We launched the PreTRM test as an LDT and may in the future develop other tests that would be considered to be LDTs. Although historically the FDA applied a policy of enforcement discretion with respect to LDTs whereby the agency did not generally actively enforce the IVD medical device regulatory requirements for such tests, in May 2024, the FDA issued a final rule aimed at regulating LDTs under the current medical device framework and phasing out its current enforcement discretion policy for this category of diagnostic tests over several years. This FDA rulemaking was initiated after years of failed congressional attempts to harmonize the regulatory paradigms applicable to LDTs and otherin vitro diagnostic tests, as discussed further below. The effective date of the agency's rule was July 5, 2024.
Previous wording
Moreover, if the FDA were to disagree with our conclusion that the PreTRM test falls within the scope of the agency’s LDT definition and that the PreTRM test is thus subject to FDA’s medical device authorities and implementing regulations today, even in the absence of final rulemaking to regulate all LDTs as devices, the agency could require that we obtain premarket approval or another type of device premarket authorization in order for us to commercialize the PreTRM test. As part of this process, we may also be required to conduct additional clinical testing before applying for commercial marketing authorization. Clinical trials must be conducted in compliance with FDA regulations in order to support a marketing submission to the agency for a regulated product, or the FDA may take certain enforcement actions or reject the data. Performing additional, new clinical studies and trials in order to obtain product approval from the FDA, if any were to become necessary, would take a significant amount of time and would substantially delay our ability to commercialize the PreTRM test, any or all of which would adversely impact our business. Any such clinical trial may need to comply with recent amendments to the FD&C Act requiring sponsors of most clinical studies of investigational devices to develop and submit a diversity action plan to the FDA. If we were to be required to develop a diversity action plan for any future clinical trial, such an obligation could result in further costs and potentially delay our ability to begin such a clinical trial.
Current wording
Moreover, if the FDA were to disagree with our conclusion that the currently marketed PreTRM test falls within the scope of the agency’s existing LDT definition and enforcement discretion policies, and the agency thus asserts that the existing PreTRM test is subject to FDA’s medical device authorities and implementing regulations, the agency could require that we obtain premarket approval or another type of device premarket authorization in order for us to continue commercializing the PreTRM test. As part of this process, we may be required to conduct additional clinical testing before applying for commercial marketing authorization. Clinical trials must be conducted in compliance with FDA regulations in order to support a marketing submission to the agency for a regulated product, or the FDA may take certain enforcement actions or reject the data. Performing additional, new clinical studies and trials in order to obtain product approval from the FDA, if any were to become necessary, would take a significant amount of time and would substantially delay our ability to commercialize the PreTRM test, any or all of which would adversely impact our business. Any such clinical trial may need to comply with recent amendments to the FD&C Act requiring sponsors of most clinical studies of investigational devices to develop and submit a diversity action plan to the FDA. If we were to be required to develop a diversity action plan for any future clinical trial, such an obligation could result in further costs and potentially delay our ability to begin such a clinical trial.
Previous wording
The outcome and ultimate impact on our business of any changes to the federal government’s regulation of LDTs is difficult to predict. Potential future increased regulation of our LDTs could result in increased costs and administrative and legal actions for noncompliance, including warning letters, fines, penalties, product suspensions, product recalls, injunctions and other civil and criminal sanctions, which could have a material and adverse effect upon our business, operating results, and financial condition.
Current wording
The outcome and ultimate impact on our business of any changes to the federal government’s regulation of LDTs is difficult to predict. Increased regulation of our LDTs under the FDA's final rule is expected to result in increased costs and administrative and legal actions for noncompliance, including warning letters, fines, penalties, product suspensions, product recalls, injunctions and other civil and criminal sanctions, which could have a material and adverse effect upon our business, operating results, and financial condition. In addition, at this time it is unclear what testing and data may be required to support any required FDA clearance or approval of our tests, should the final rule be fully implemented as envisioned by FDA and HHS following resolution of any pending or future litigation.
Previous wording
If the FDA decides to require that we obtain any form or type of premarket authorization in order for us to commercialize our current PreTRM test or any future tests developed as LDTs, whether as a result of new legislative authority or following finalization and implementation of the October 2023 proposed rule or based on its determination that the PreTRM test does not meet the definition of an LDT, we may be required to conduct additional clinical testing before submitting a regulatory submission for commercial marketing authorization. Clinical trials to support marketing authorization from the FDA must be conducted in compliance with various regulatory requirements, including investigational device exemption regulations and good clinical practices, or else the FDA may take certain enforcement actions or reject the data. Such clinical trials may take several years to design and conduct, and they are often expensive and resource-driven.
Current wording
If the FDA decides to require that we obtain any form or type of premarket authorization in order for us to commercialize our current PreTRM test or any future tests developed as LDTs, whether as a result of new legislative authority or following finalization and implementation of the May 2024 final rule or based on its determination that the PreTRM test does not meet the definition of an LDT, we may be required to conduct additional clinical testing before submitting a regulatory submission for commercial marketing authorization. Clinical trials to support marketing authorization from the FDA must be conducted in compliance with various regulatory requirements, including investigational device exemption regulations and good clinical practices, or else the FDA may take certain enforcement actions or reject the data. Such clinical trials may take several years to design and conduct, and they are often expensive and resource-driven.
Previous wording
The Federal Trade Commission and/or state enforcement or regulatory agencies may object to the methods and materials we use to promote our tests and initiate enforcement against us, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Current wording
The Federal Trade Commission and/or state enforcement or regulatory agencies may object to the methods and materials we use to promote our tests, our services and our nonmedical products and initiate enforcement against us, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
Previous wording
The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, and/or state enforcement or regulatory agencies (including but not limited to the offices of state attorneys general) may object to the materials and methods we use to promote our current tests or other LDTs we may develop in the future, including with respect to the product claims in our promotional materials, and may initiate enforcement actions against us. Enforcement actions by the FTC may include, among others, injunctions, civil penalties, and equitable monetary relief. Recently the FTC has become more active in its scrutiny of health claims used in advertising goods and services, including through its publication of a sweeping “health products compliance guidance” document in December 2022.
Current wording
The Federal Trade Commission, or FTC, and/or state enforcement or regulatory agencies (including but not limited to the offices of state attorneys general) may object to the materials and methods we use to promote our current tests or other LDTs we may develop in the future, including with respect to the product claims in our promotional materials, as well as our testing services and nonmedical products such as our recently developed LikeMine TM webapp, and may initiate enforcement actions against us. Enforcement actions by the FTC may include, among others, injunctions, civil penalties, and equitable monetary relief. Recently the FTC has become more active in its scrutiny of health claims used in advertising goods and services, including through its publication of a sweeping “health products compliance guidance” document in December 2022.
Previous wording
The global data protection landscape is rapidly evolving, and we are or may become subject to numerous state and federal laws, requirements, and regulations governing the collection, use, disclosure, retention, and security of personal information. Implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, and we cannot yet determine the impact future laws, regulations, or standards or perception of their requirements may have on our business. This evolution may create uncertainty in our business, affect our ability to operate in certain jurisdictions or to collect, store, transfer, use and share personal information, necessitate the acceptance of more onerous obligations in our contracts, result in liability, or impose additional costs on us. The cost of compliance with these laws, regulations, and standards is high and is likely to increase in the future. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with federal or state laws or regulations, our internal policies and procedures, or our contracts governing our use and disclosures of personal information could result in negative publicity, government investigations and enforcement actions, claims by third parties, and damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial performance, and business.
Current wording
The global data protection landscape is rapidly evolving, and we are or may become subject to numerous state, federal, and international laws, requirements, and regulations governing the collection, use, disclosure, retention, and security of personal information. Implementation standards and enforcement practices are likely to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future, and we cannot yet determine the impact future laws, regulations, or standards or perception of their requirements may have on our business. This evolution may create uncertainty in our business, affect our ability to operate in certain jurisdictions or to collect, store, transfer, use and share personal information, necessitate the acceptance of more onerous obligations in our contracts, result in liability, or impose additional costs on us. The cost of compliance with these laws, regulations, and standards is high and is likely to increase in the future. Any failure or perceived failure by us to comply with federal or state laws or regulations, our internal policies and procedures, or our contracts governing our use and disclosures of personal information could result in negative publicity, government investigations and enforcement actions, claims by third parties, and damage to our reputation, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial performance, and business.
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Rearranged current paragraphs (1)
Current report — wording carried from elsewhere
Affected stakeholders also continue to press for a comprehensive legislative solution to create a harmonized paradigm for oversight of LDTs by both the FDA and CMS, instead of implementation of the FDA final rule, which may be disruptive to the industry and to patient access to certain diagnostic tests. However, it is unclear whether any future legislative efforts would be successful going forward.
Rearranged previous paragraphs (3)
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
The inflationary environment could materially adversely impact our business and results of operations.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
While we believe that we are currently in material compliance with applicable laws and regulations as historically enforced by the FDA with respect to LDTs, we cannot assure you that the FDA will agree with our determination. A determination that we have violated these laws and regulations, or a public announcement that we are being investigated for possible violations, could adversely affect our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Previous report — wording carried elsewhere
As a public company, we expect to continue incurring significant legal, accounting, and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, which require, among other things that we file with the SEC annual, quarterly, and current reports with respect to our business and financial condition.